SWECA and ONE

74 members attended the Spring meeting of the South West of England Cidermakers’ Association, held at Rich’s Farmhouse Cider at Watchfield.

After the meeting Liz Copas and Neil Macdonald gave a well received presentation on the care of traditional orchards and the group held a lively discussion on a wide range of orcharding topics, including soil compaction and drainage.

The support being given by the National Association of Cider Makers to ONE (Cider And Perry Orchards Network of Excellence) drew many enthusiastic comments.  

ONE presented to SWECA and explained its new role, funded by the NACM, which will include communications with growers on matters such as knowledge sharing, investment, research, workshops and resources

ONE has been extremely successful at rallying growers and has a track record as a proven network for disseminating information.

This support is great for commercial growers and everyone is encouraged to become a member of ONE by clicking on this link.

Pruning Masterclass at West Bradley Orchards

Last month we were delighted to

host a Pruning Masterclass on

behalf of CAPONE (Cider & Perry 

Orchards Network of Excellence) 

based in Hereford.

This is the first of four workshops

on cider apple growing in the

south-west this year. Others will

be looking at pest identification

and nutrient planning. (We will

keep you posted on dates.)

The celebrated orchardman John

Worle (above) guided us through his

methods of pruning apple trees at

all stages of their lives, with a

lively question and answer

session throughout.

With over fifty years experience in

nursery work and apple

production John is one of the best

known orchardmen in the country

and it was a privilege to listen to

his advice.

A few days prior to the West

Bradley Masterclass Neil

Macdonald had been a guest at

John’s nursery in Herefordshire

where some of the new varieties

of cider apple are being grown on

for sale.

He said of the day “It was a

memorable experience. There is

nothing quite like being with other

orchard people, discussing the

topic closest to our hearts and

coming up with new ideas and

possibilities.”

Some of John’s early orchard

knowledge was acquired at West

Bradley Orchards before he went

on to work at Long Ashton

Research Station and later for

Bulmers. 

He set up his own

nursery business in 2006 and has

since supplied over half a million

bare rooted cider apple trees to the industry.

An apple tree for Christmas

Harbour & Jones, the imaginative London based catering and hospitality services company, came up with a great idea for corporate Christmas presents.  

Instead of the usual hamper they bought each of their clients an apple tree, which we will plant for them in Somerset.  

All together there will be some 40 trees which will be part of our programme of restoration for Somerset orchards.

We think this is a great idea - and so much more rewarding than socks!

Magners

Earlier this month the Norton Cider Growers had an exceedingly good meeting at the Shepton Cider Mill with C&C Magners, where the future of the relationship between the company and the growers was presented.

A willingness to work together was clearly evident, to the extent that C&C has pledged a fund of £1million for growers to offer ideas and projects for investment over the next year. Anything from new technology or equipment to new trials and plantings or whatever growers think will improve the business for C&C going forward.  

Of particular interest will be ideas that will improve the supply of quality fruit, and extend the season, plus projects that fit with the C&C sustainability model of economic, social and environmental considerations.

Equipment for hire

If you need some help over the harvest we have some equipment for hire that might make your life a lot easier.  

We have a pedestrian self-propelled harvester with which you could comfortably pick up 5 tons a day, which comes on its own trailer and with as many apple boxes as you require. 

Hire cost £50 per day.

For budding juice and cider makers we also have a Speidel mill and Hydrovane press for hire, capable of pressing up to 1000L per day with very little effort - also only £50 per day.

We also have for sale 1000 L square white plastic IBC containers, in a cage, and 210 L blue plastic drums, both suitable for making cider.

1000 L - £65
210 L - £25 

Call Deborah on 01963 240581

Pick-Your-Own at West Bradley Orchards

West Bradley Orchards will be open for Pick-Your-Own on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weekends in September, Friday - Sunday, 10.00 - 5.00.  West Bradley is one of the few remaining Somerset orchards to grow dessert fruit as well as cider fruit.

Dessert varieties include Bramley, Cox, Charles Ross, Egremont Russet, Worcester Pearmain, Jonagold, Reinette d'Orleans and others.  Pears are Beth, Comice, Concorde and Conference. 

Sunday 9 September will be our annual Apple Scrumping Day.  Come along to the orchards, pick your own fruit and we will help you to turn it into juice.  Equipment, tuition and bottles provided. This is a great family day out, and you get apple juice to take home! 

If the cider fruit is ripe you can choose to press that instead of dessert fruit - start off your own cider blend!

For PYO info call 01458 850227

Neil Macdonald

Both of our cider-making workshops were booked out, so we are planning another one on Thursday 27 September.

As this will be right in the middle of the dessert harvest, and at the start of the cider fruit harvest, it will give everyone the opportunity to press some juice, experiment with blending, and take the results home to await developments!

Participants so far have enjoyed the opportunity to taste a huge selection of West Country ciders.  Some of them have been from the major brands but most are from small local producers whom we know well.

The variation of flavours has been eye-opening, as have the things to watch out for that indicate an unfinished fermentation or oxidation, or worse!

We have been so pleased that people have brought along samples of their own brews to 

share.  All have been extremely interesting, and some downright entertaining!

On the one hand making cider couldn’t be simpler: press some apples into juice and wait.  But if you want to make a superior product there are one or two pointers we can offer that will really make a difference.

Neil Macdonald will be tutoring the workshop and there will be a guided tour of West Bradley Orchards and Orchard Pig’s pressing and bottling plant.  Lunch is also included.

The fee for the workshop will be £95.  To book please call us on 01458 851222 or 01458 850154.